South Norfolk Memories

The Teen Years Cont'd

There was a really friendly store called Park Avenue Confectionary that had the best hot dogs. A lot of us hung out there after school. I Opened up my first checking account at the Merchants and Planters Bank on Liberty Street while working at Prestons.

Colon and myself took steel guitar lessons from Tony Saks Studio on East Main St. in Norfolk. We would ride the bus with our guitars. I played at a school recital and people threw money up on the stage. I played drums one night at a bar with my brothers band. I was lucky to get out of there with my life. I later played the organ. I never could read music so I didn't get very far with any of them.

When you turned 18 years old, all boys had to register for the draft. That office was behind the Derby Grill. I beleive the lady in charge was named Mrs. Crick. She knew my brothers too. Another thing I did when i turned 18 was go to the Gaity Theater for a burlesque show. That was very exciting. Some favorite places to go were Ocean View Amusement Park and beach. I wil never forget that roller coaster. I never would ride he bullet or sometimes called he salt and pepper shaker. When i was little, my dad and brothers would rent a boat from the fishing pier and go fishing. We used handlines as we did not have rods and reels. We had to row the boat too because we had no motor, but we had a great time. I remember the funeral of General Douglas Macarthur in downtown Norfolk. Lots of military units, riderless horse just like for a president.

Pete's Drive In on Bainbridge Boulevard had curb service. That was a favorite place for kids to hang out. There was a Cities Service Station at Poindexter Street and Chesapeake Avenue. It was run by Fats Blanchard, one of the friendliest and nicest people you could ever meet. Our whole family bought gas from him and just loved talking to him. Another good man was Mr. Claude Creekmore, who ran a hardware store. One of my favorie places was the Hobby Shop. Mrs. butt and her son Corky ran it. Lil Hart and her husband Norman lived next door to us. Norman and Lil were great neighbors and Lil spent a lot of time with me and Mom in our house. She was the greatest.

I will always have a special place in my heart for South Norfolk. On our sreet, most families sat on the porch after dinner and talked about their day. Remember, we had no tv or air condition when i was little. Neighbors walking down the street would stop and say hello. It was a safe place. We never felt like we had to lock the doors or fear to walk down the street. People were closer to each other. South Norfolk in the 40's, 50's and 60's was a wonderful place to grow up in.